Santa Cruz County History - People

George G. Patterson a Resident of Deerfield IL; enlisted as a private on September 3, 1861. He was mustered into "B" Co. of the 44th IL Infantry on 9/13/61 and discharged for disability on 3/31/63.

Santa Cruz Surf (September 16, 1901)

The body of George German Patterson, an old soldier was found this afternoon washed ashore on the beach near Del Mar.

He was missed from his home near Seabright last night and his sister and neighbors had very grave fears that he had taken his life.

His sister who resides with him read last evening as was her usual custom until 9 o'clock when she went to her room and retire.

She heard him rise and go outside. She listened for his return and at 10 o'clock she became alarmed. He has of late been subject to sinking spells and she thought it possible one had overtaken him, but he was nowhere to be found around the home. She then feared for the worse, as since he has been subject to these spells he has suffered melancholia, and has not been himself and has threatened self destruction.

One day last week he hired P. Stanton to take him up the coast under the pretense that he wished to call on friends. This he did not do, but he got out of the wagon at different points along the coast and made a thorough examination. This was very strange for him to do, as he seldom ever leaves a wagon when driving, as it is very difficult matter for him to do, as he lost a leg in the war and has a peg leg.

A search was made along the coast this morning. At Black Point fresh foot prints were seen by Neil McCay and it is almost certain they were those of Mr. Patterson, and it is from here he must have taken his life.

Mr. Patterson was born on October 30, 1830 at Norfolk, New York. In 1861 he enlisted in the 44th Illinois Regiment and after sixteen months of service in the army was wounded on December 31, 1862 in the battle of Stone River Tennessee. He came to Santa Cruz fifteen years ago. He lived alone being unmarried and several years ago, when ill, his sister Mrs. Sampson arrived from the east and since has been with him.

Santa Cruz Sentinel (September 18, 1901)

The funeral of George G. Patterson took place Tuesday afternoon from Wessendorf and Staffler undertaking parlors. His request was that his body be placed in a box in which holes should be bored and which should be weighted and then taken several miles out to sea. This could not be done and he was buried, as was his request without a word of prayer or service. The interment was in Evergreen Cemetery.

Editorial Notes from Robert L. Nelson

NARA Pension/Military Research

George Patterson, a resident of Coldwater, Michigan applied for and received a pension on June 15, 1866. At the time he was described as being 30 years old, 5’3” in height, dark complexion, black eyes and black hair. The reason for the the pension was the loss of the left leg which had been amputated at the thigh following the battle of Stones River Tennessee Dec 30, 1862. Patterson was discharged April 15, 1863 which was changed to a disability discharge on September 3, 1864. Pension records correspondence indicate that Paterson had pension payment transferred to San Francisco in 1869, to New Orleans in 1874 and back to San Francisco in 1880. In 1891 while living in Santa Cruz Patterson’s pension was increased from $30 to $36 per month. In 1907 a James Meese of Mear Michigan had inquired as to the status of George Patterson and was informed that he had been dropped from the pension roles because of his death on Dec. 15, 1901.

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